Another Complaint Filed Against Former District Attorney David Roger

Las Vegas, Nevada Veterans In Politics International (VIPI) has filed another complaint against former District Attorney David Roger.

VIPI learned that while David Roger was a candidate for re-election; he was approached by the LVPPA and was in negotiations to be their General Council. Roger accepted $505,991.54 in campaign donations, knowing all the while, he was going to be leaving his post if he was re-elected.

Sources close to both Roger and VIPI indicated that Roger also cashed out five years of his Public Employment Retirement System (PERS) with the District Attorney’s Office in June 2012.

VIPI has now filed another complaint regarding Former DA Roger, this time with the State Bar of Nevada.

VIPI filed its original complaint with Nevada Commission on Ethics in January, asserting that David Roger had violated the public trust while he served as the Clark County District Attorney.

The complaint that was filed indicated the following:

Roger has violated the public’s trust

There have been dozens of police shootings by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officers. There has been a RECORD of 12 fatal shootings by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officers in 2011.

The Clark County District Attorney’s Office investigates officer involved shootings and they also provide evidence to the Coroner’s Inquest procedures.

The Clark County District Attorney, David Roger, has been involved in negotiations with the Las Vegas Police Protective Association (LVPPA) for months, with an offer to be LVPPA’s General Counsel, while his office investigated police involved shootings. To spell it out, as a District Attorney, one of the responsibilities is to investigate police shootings, and now David Roger is taking a job that is in direct opposition and conflict with investigating the LVMPD shootings. This alludes to the idea that unethical practices have been in place throughout, and a clear conflict of interest exists.

Roger announced his resignation on November 1, 2011, citing a need to be with his family as a reason, and indicated he had an offer from the LVPPA. Roger officially resigned on January 3, 2012 and on January 5, 2012 he accepted the position of General Counsel for the LVPPA.

Roger has violated the public trust and has broken the following Nevada Revised Statues:

NRS 281A.020 Legislative findings and declarations.

1. It is hereby declared to be the public policy of this State that:

(a) A public office is a public trust and shall be held for the sole benefit of the people.

(b) A public officer or employee must commit himself or herself to avoid conflicts between the private interests of the public officer or employee and those of the general public whom the public officer or employee serves.

2. The Legislature finds and declares that:

(a) The increasing complexity of state and local government, more and more closely related to private life and enterprise, enlarges the potentiality for conflict of interests.

(b) To enhance the people’s faith in the integrity and impartiality of public officers and employees, adequate guidelines are required to show the appropriate separation between the roles of persons who are both public servants and private citizens.

NRS 281A.170 “Willful violation” defined. “Willful violation” means a violation where the public officer or employee:

1. Acted intentionally and knowingly; or

2. Was in a situation where this chapter imposed a duty to act and the public officer or employee intentionally and knowingly failed to act in the manner required by this chapter.

There is a major conflict of interest on the part of David Roger investigating police shootings and negotiating for a job as their General Counsel.

We must hold our public officials to higher standards and make them accountable for what they have done. VIPI is requesting that the State Bar of Nevada conduct an investigation into these allegations.